Tee (right) speaking to Dr Aman after handing over RM500, 000 worth of hygiene products at Hospital Permai, Johor Baru.
SEVERAL non-governmental organisations (NGO) and private companies have channelled aid to healthcare frontliners who work round the clock in the fight against Covid-19, as a gesture of appreciation.
Asia-Pacific Forum on Families Malaysia (Afpam) donated RM10, 000 worth of coffee and snacks to healthcare workers at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor Baru.
Its founding president Puan Sri Prof Jamilah Ariffin said the donations were meant for all hospital staff, in appreciation of their hard work and sacrifices.
“Hopefully our gesture will encourage frontliners to press on despite the many challenges and difficulties they face.
“We also hope this donation will inspire others, such as local cafes and restaurants, to provide hot meals to frontliners as many of them do not have time to prepare meals at home due to their hectic schedule, ” she said.
She added that Afpam had carried out several welfare aid projects since the start of the movement control order last year, including distributing foodstuff and essential items to poor families statewide.
Separately, Johor Mentri Besar’s adviser Datuk Tee Siew Kiong handed over RM500, 000 worth of hygiene products to state Health Department director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu at Hospital Permai.
“The items are 1, 000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), 10, 000 pieces of three-ply face masks and 100 units of hand sanitisers. They were all donated by three local companies.
“The aim of the donation is to ensure that healthcare workers are well-equipped and protected while carrying out their responsibilities in fighting Covid-19.
“At the same time, we hope that frontliners do not feel like they are alone in this fight, ” said Tee.
Renaissance Johor Baru Hotel also extended a helping hand by serving 500 meal packs to frontliners on duty at the Dewan Raya Bandar Seri Alam Covid-19 vaccination centre.
Hotel general manager Gagan Singh said the compact meal boxes — filled with rice, side dishes and fresh fruits — were prepared by the hotel’s culinary team.
“Giving back to the communities we operate in has always been part of the hotel’s DNA and corporate social responsibility, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Nagarathar Welfare Group (MNWG) and Malaysian Thanavaisya Association (MTA) donated a RM30, 000 high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) machine to HSA to treat Covid-19 patients.
MTA committee member V. Venkatachalam said the two associations raised funds with the help of Chettiar temples in Malaysia.
“We managed to raise enough money to purchase six HFNC machines, which were donated to the general hospitals in Johor Baru, Melaka, Seremban, Serdang, Penang and Alor Setar.
“The machine can help HSA’s Covid-19 patients who are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute respiratory failure, ” he said.
